ResourcesWeekly RoundUp - January 20, 2026

Data security in 2026: What your team needs to know now

Data privacy should be top of mind. Get tips.

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Data Security Training:
Essential Strategies for 2026

Key Takeaways:
Invest in continuous data privacy training, implement Zero Trust principles and prepare your team for a compliance environment where regulators expect real-time proof of security, not just annual audits. Use AI to detect anomalies—hackers are using it to find weaknesses.

Start with Zero Trust
The old "trust but verify" approach is dead. Today's best practices operate on Zero Trust principles: No user or device is trusted by default, regardless of location. Train employees to expect continuous verification, understand least-privilege access and recognize why network segmentation matters.

Continuous Training Human error still causes most data breaches. Regular training sessions, phishing simulations and clear reporting channels for suspicious activity can dramatically mitigate risk. One annual compliance video won't cut it anymore.

Leverage AI for Threat Detection AI is now being used both offensively and defensively—threat actors are using it for faster reconnaissance and more convincing phishing, while organizations deploy it for anomaly detection and automated responses. Train your team to work alongside these AI tools effectively.

Secure Remote Work With remote work here to stay, ensure employees use VPNs for corporate access, secure their home networks and understand remote device management protocols. AI has compressed exfiltration timelines from days to hours, making quick detection and response essential.

Stay Ahead of Regulations Three new state privacy laws took effect January 1, 2026—Indiana, Kentucky and Rhode Island—joining the growing patchwork of U.S. privacy regulations. The EU's AI Act becomes fully applicable by August 2026, introducing new transparency and governance requirements. Keeping employees informed about evolving compliance obligations is non-negotiable.

Use Privacy-Enhancing Technologies The privacy-enhancing technologies market is projected to hit $12.09-28.4 billion by 2030.* Technologies like homomorphic encryption and secure multi-party computation let you analyze data while preserving privacy, but only if your team knows how to use them.